Souls in heaven

Since 2012-11-19

Their souls were seeking their Lord and looking for the heaven. They used to worship Allah as if they were seeing Him. And that is why the owners of such hearts were victorious; they gained Allah’s support and He submitted the whole world to them because of the truthfulness of their intentions and the purity of their hearts.

After ‘Isha` prayer, the young boy used to look here and there, from the window of his house. Sometimes he looks at the houses of the neighbors and sometimes he looks at the heaven that is adorned with the shiny stars. However, there was strange feeling that bewilders this boy.

It is the trunk that is erected above the roof of their neighbor, Abu Mansûr!

The boy could not find an explanation to the growth of this trunk above the roof in the night, although seeing no trace to it in the daytime!

Many days passed by this boy while having the different ideas and imaginations stir his mind. Then a night came in which he did not see the trunk above the roof of their neighbor, as he used to. So, the boy went to his mother and sat beside her and enshrouded her neck with his hands and then asked her: “O mom, do you know where this trunk (that was above the roof of our neighbor Abu Mansûr) has gone?” The mother looked at him in astonishment and said: “Trunk?! O baby, since when did the trees grow on the roofs of houses?!”

“It was there. I used to see it each night, and it does not appear in daytime.” the boy insisted.

When the mother saw the insistence of her child, she thought; then she remembered something has the clue of this mystery. So, she smiled and wiped the head of her child and said: “O my beloved, it was not trunk, it is our neighbor Mansûr ibn Al-Mutamir who was praying at night, then he died (may Allah mercy him).”

And we say: “O Mansûr, may Allah mercy you.” Because of his stillness and submissiveness in prayer; he who looks at him would think that he is a trunk.

Hence, what if Mansûr looked at the status of many of our brothers today who seem to get the itch once they get in prayer! You could see them rub their noses, chins and stomachs. And some among them rub their backs. Furthermore, you could see who leans, as if he is bowing, during the stand of the imam to rub his leg. And you may see someone lifts his leg, like an animal, to rub it! And another person looks at the watch between the Rak’as to count the time of prayer! Also, you could see some people invent ways to push the imam to hasten the prayer; such people may make a sound with their throat in an obvious way (ehm!) or rise their voices by saying ‘Ameen’ in the silent prayer to make the imam know that there is just little time before Ruku’.

By this way, the person used to see wonders and strange things done by some people praying (may Allah guide them). Actually, this could be understood only as not having submissiveness and not fearing Allah much.

Because of not having submissiveness; prayer became heavy to some Muslims; they want to finish it anyway, as if they were getting rid of heavy burden.

Because of not having submissiveness; prayer became just habit, not desired act of worship.

Because of not having submissiveness; prayer became time for the calculations and mind roving in the worldly affairs.

Because of not having submissiveness; prayer is no longer deterrent to many Muslims, preventing from the evil and what is forbidden.

When submissiveness (the duty and great affair) is neglected by many Muslims, their prayer is no longer has an effect in their lives, behaviors and transactions.

Submissiveness, according to those who know Allah well, is the standing of the heart between the Hands of the Lord by compliance and deference. And when the heart submits, the limbs are submissive and silent as glorification to their Lord (the Exalted the Glorious). Omar ibn Al-Khattab said: “A man may become white-haired during being Muslim without completing a single prayer to Allah Almighty.” When Omar was asked: “how is that?” he said: “he does not complete its submissiveness, humbleness and directing himself to Allah during it.”

Submissiveness is essential for prayer to be accepted by Allah (the Exalted the Glorious) and to have its reward given to the one who performs it. It is narrated that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “A servant may pray a prayer but has nothing of its reward except the tenth, ninth, eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third or half.” [Declared authentic by Al-Albani in Sifat As-Salah: 36]

Therefore, we are obliged to recheck our prayer and look for what could make us have submissiveness.

Let’s consider some things enable us to have submissiveness. Among these things are;

1- The person should forget anything relates to the worldly life once he says Allahu Akbar (i.e. Allah is Greatest)!

Actually, Allah is Greater than anything!

He is Greater than his trade and money!

He is Greater than his wife and children!

He is Greater than his troubles and affairs!

And He is Greater, Glorifier and Exalter than anything that may come to the mind. Hence, He deserves to have the attention and concentration of the servant dedicated to Him alone.

If a person thought for a while, he would discover that he will spend the time of prayer anyway, whether he is submissive or not. So; why would not he spend this time in submissiveness, to be rewarded and given the fruit of prayer? Indeed, this is better than spending that time without submissiveness and not knowing whether Allah would accept it or not.

A group of people asked Amir ibn Qais: “do you talk to yourself in the prayer?” Whereupon he said: “Is there something dearer to me than prayer to talk to myself about it?!” They said: “but we talk to ourselves in the prayer.” He asked: “do you talk to yourselves about Paradise and maidens of heaven and the like?” People replied, “No, it is about our families and properties.” Amir said: “to have my body cut by the swords is better to me than doing that.”

2- The Muslim should feel supplicating his Lord, and he should know that his Lord (the Exalted the Glorious) looks at him and hears what he says. Actually, when the Muslim person stands for prayer, he stands between the hands of his Lord and talks to Him as told by our prophet Muhammad (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him).

Abu Bakr Al-Muzani said: “O son of Adam, who is like you? You have access to water and Qiblah; whenever you like, you purify yourself and meet your Lord with no translator or guard between you and Him!”

Indeed, Allah Almighty still looks at His slave, who prays to Him, as long as the slave is directing his face and heart to Allah; however, if the slave turned his face and became inattentive, Allah turns away from him.

Then; look, dear brother, to the great honor and bounties that is bestowed by Allah upon the submissive slave when he recites Al-Fatiha.

When the person who performs prayer says: {All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)} [Surat Al-Fatiha 1:2]

{الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} الفاتحة: 2

Transliteration: Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena

Allah (the Exalted the Glorious) says: “My slave has praised Me.”

And when the person who performs prayer says: {The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful} [Surat Al-Fatiha 1:3]

{الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ} الفاتحة: 3

Transliteration: Alrrahmani alrraheemi

Allah (the Exalted the Glorious) says: “My slave has commended Me.”

And when the person who performs prayer says: {The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)} [Surat Al-Fatiha 1:4]

{مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ} الفاتحة: 4

Transliteration: Maliki yawmi alddeeni

Allah (the Exalted the Glorious) says: “My slave has glorified Me.”

And when he says: {You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)} [Surat Al-Fatiha 1:5]

{إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ} الفاتحة: 5

Transliteration: Iyyaka naAAbudu waiyyaka nastaAAeenu

Allah (the Exalted the Glorious) says: “This is between Me and My slave, and My slave should have what he asks for.”

Then when he says: {Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (i.e. those who knew the Truth, but did not follow it) nor of those who went astray (i.e. those who did not follow the Truth out of ignorance and error)} [Surat Al-Fatiha 1:6-7]

Allah (the Exalted the Glorious) says: “This is for My slave, and My slave should have what he asks for.”

O my God, how great this favor is! Allah (the Exalted the Glorious) listens to His slave! Furthermore, He responds to his request by guiding him to the straight path in the worldly life and Hereafter!

One of the righteous followers used to have his color changed once he stands for prayer. And when he was asked about that he said: “Do you know between the hands of whom I stand? Do you know to whom I supplicate?”

3- When the person stands for prayer, he should contemplate the verses and remembrance that he recites in his prayer.

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed a complete night with just one verse he kept repeating it till the morning approached. It is the saying of Allah (the Exalted the Glorious): {If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You, are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise} [Surat Al-Mâ`idah 5:118]

And it is mentioned that Abu Hanifa (may Allah mercy him) prayed a complete night with just one verse; {Nay, but the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense), and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter} [Surat Al-Qamar 54:46]

And it is narrated that some of the companions of Al-Hassan spent a night in his house, then Al-Hassan got up during the night to pray. He prayed and continued repeating this verse till dawn {And if you would count the favours of Allâh, never could you be able to count them} [Surat An-Nahl 16:18]

{وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لا تُحْصُوهَا} النّحل: 18

Transliteration: Wain taAAuddoo niAAmata Allahi latuhsooha

And when the morning came, his companions said to him: “O Abu Sa’îd, you did not pass this verse in the night!” whereupon he said: “I see wisdoms in it, I never rise my eye or return it back but I see one of Allah’s blessings. Indeed, what we do not know about Allah’s blessings are more.”

Here, we should mention an important note. The person should know the meaning of what he recites in order to be able to consider it. Therefore, every Muslim should read as much as he can in the books of interpretation or the meanings of the Holy Quran, to understand the meaning of the verses correctly and to know what Allah means by it.

Also, considering the remembrance that is mentioned in the prayer has its effect on the submissiveness. It is narrated that Rifaa bin Rafi said: One day we were praying behind the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him). When he raised his head from Ruku’, he said, “Sami’a-l-lahuLimanhamida.” A man behind him said, “Rabbanawalaka-l hamdhamdanKathirantaiyibanmubarakanfihi” (‘Our Lord, for You is all praise, an abundant beautiful blessed praise.’). When the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) completed the prayer, he asked, “Who has said these words?” The man replied, “I.” The Prophet said, “I saw over thirty angels competing to whom would write it first!” [Reported by Al-Bukhari: 799]

These are some of the things that facilitate having submissiveness. In fact, there are many other things we have no space to mention them in detail. However, we could refer to some of these things; such as going to the Masjid early, having a position in the first row, performing the supererogatory prayers, looking at the spot of prostration, seeking refuge with Allah from Satan and getting away from whatever may distract the slave in his prayer (e.g. the mobile phone which we are afflicted by it in this time).

Finally,

Today; many of the problems, which are results to the weakness of faith, are caused by not fulfilling prayer in the correct way. Then, when will we understand that the solution of many problems lie in the submissiveness?

Indeed, the sins that have been spread in the Muslim communities and heading away from the religion of Allah and neglecting the guidance of His messenger led to Muslim’s weakness, humility and having their enemies surpassed them as results to not doing properly what are enjoined by Allah. This is like not performing the prayer properly. In fact performing the prayer anyway is something different from performing it properly. And performing the prayer properly means to perform it with submissiveness, because it is the essence and soul of prayer as the prayer that has no submissiveness is a dead prayer that has no soul.

Submissiveness is the start point for success in the worldly life and Hereafter. So, why should not we start now and go?

Indeed, having submissiveness was the thing that distinguished our righteous forefathers (may Allah be pleased with them) most. And that is why they deserved to be called believers by Allah {Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salât (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness} [Surat Al-Mu`minûn 23:1-2]

Their souls were seeking their Lord and looking for the heaven. They used to worship Allah as if they were seeing Him. And that is why the owners of such hearts were victorious; they gained Allah’s support and He submitted the whole world to them because of the truthfulness of their intentions and the purity of their hearts.